China Guide
Sichuan and Chongqing
Leshan and Dafo
Set beside the wide convergence of the Qingyi, Min and Dadu rivers, 180km from Chengdu and 50km from Emei Shan, LESHAN is a spread-out market town with a modern northern fringe and older riverside core, a transit point for visiting Dafo, the Great Buddha, carved deep into a niche in the facing cliffs.
Leshan's main bus station, with regular connections to Chengdu, Emei Shan, Xichang, Zigong, Yibin and Chongqing, is 9km out on the town's northern reaches; a taxi to either Dafo's north entrance or the ferry terminals on Binjiang Lu shouldn't cost more than ¥10. Don't plan to stay at Leshan; the hotel situation is terrible and you're better off day-tripping from Emei or Chengdu.